Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-11-12
THE EXECUTIONS.

The execution OF the tour murdererS
known as Anarchists, at Chicago, having
been accomplished, two others having been
remanded to prison for life, and the seventh
having anticipated the public executioner,
it will be we'll to let the subject drop out
of mind for time, since the public
thought has been unduly wrought up and
long put to extreme tension in this whole
matter Of the Chicago Anarchists. 1t viii
not be we'll to lose sight, however, of the
lesson of the recent excitement. 1t is to
be found in the truth that venality and
corruption is so prevalent in Government
trusts, and officials are so plastic in the
hands Of the vicious and the bosses, that
anarchism has been able to seize upon the
facts as means of advancing its own in
famous cause. 1t is futile to attempt to
conceal the fact that there has been such
venality in high places and still is, as to
furnish the enemies of our system with
something of apparent excuse for appeal
ing to the passions of the laboring men of
the country, and impressing them with the
belief that they are oppressed and down.
trodden and their rights subverted. In
fact the personal rights of the citizen are
as secure to-day as ever, and there is no real
cause to fear their invasion. The very fact
that the Anarchists have not been interrupt
ed in their utterances and demonstrations
is proof positive of the strength of the toll
Grant spirit and Of the confidence of the
masses of the people in American institu
tions But the misgovernment of munich
palities and the chicane of the vicious and
INSCRIPTIONS managers of political actiyi-
ties has been seized upon by Anarchists
and radical Socialists as pretext for as
sault upon the whole social system. Con-
taminated by the preaching Of the radical
Socialist, misled by the sophistry of George,
and corrupted by contact with imported
Anarchists, it is not surprising that con-
siderable number of the laboring men of
the nation have been led to affiliate or
bl iJdthlSS Will hudIGlliSt dlu kOCtdilol
organizations. We believe, however, that
the dawn of new day is in promise, and
that there will be such purging of the
country of venal manipulators of munich
pal affairs; such restriction upon the influx
of the offscourings of Europe, than even APP
parent excuse for railing against free institu-
tions will be eliminated, and the fresh fuel
supply to the fires of Anarchist schemes
will be cut off,
1t is probable that anarchism has
reached its full growth with us. 1t is not
indigenous to our soil the atmosphere of
free government founded upon the Sc
curity of men in their rights is not con-
genial to hedoctrine of anarchism. There
may continue to be spasmodic manifesto
tions from time to time of anarchial
vitality in the United States, but there is
no reason TO believe, by its past, by the
spirit in which it has been received, that
the faith of the Anarchist will draw to it
in this land any formidable number of fol-
lowers. One thing must be kept clearly in
view-we have not punished anyone for
opinions sake. The men hanged in Chi
cago yesterday were visited with the ex-
IRENE penalty of The law for violating the
penal enactments of the State of Illinois,
forbidding the taking of human life with
out warrant of law While the scafold
was being prepared for them their friends
were freely permitted TO parade the streets
of our cities, with emblenls of their infa-
nous doctrines fully displayed. They were
left free to preach the destruction of the
Government, the overthrow OF social order
the releasing Of all restraint upon human
action, the abandonment of property pos
sessions and the denial of ownership, and
advocate the policy Of return to the con-
ditions of savagery. No more significant
evidence of the strength of the American
principle can be cited than the fact that it
permits the preaching of anarchism with
Indifference, that it puts no restraint upon
speech, no limit to expression by pen or
tongue, until the ordinary laws for con-
servation of peace and order are invaded.
1t interposes then, but not for opinions
sake. The way to the end of anarchism is
to give its apostles free rein, but to hold
them to stern accountability for any in
fraction of the laws created to punish
crime, restrain from offense and preserve
the rights and peace of the people.